Apparatus for controlling railway switches



July 8, 1941. J. w. LOGAN, JR

APPARATUS FOR CONTRQ LLING' RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed March 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIS ATTORNEY July 8, 1941. J. w. LOGAN, JR

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed March 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Shegt 2 H15 AT'TORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES John W. Logan, J r., Forest Hills; Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swiss-- vale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 13, 1940, Serial No. 323,764

12 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for controlling railway switches, and particularly to apparatus for normally controlling a switch from a remote point, but for at times modifying such control to permit operation of the switch from a point adjacent the switch.

Apparatus embodying my invention is particularly suitable for, although in no way limited to, use for controlling direct acting switch movements which are utilized in car retarder yards for diverting cars from the hump into the desired classification tracks. In yards of the type referred to, it has heretofore usually been customary to control all of the switches by means of switch levers located on a central control panel disposed in a tower. With this arrangement, if the humping crew only works a part of the time, for example one or two shifts, there are periods during the off-shift while the trains are being dispatched when it is desired to reverse the switches, and in order to eifect this reversal it becomes necessary for a member of the train crew to ascend the tower and operate the proper switch lever since no towerman is then on duty. This occasions an undesirable delay, and the principal object of my present invention is to provide local control means at the individual switches for reversing the switches by power when the towerman is off duty to thereby eliminate these undesirable delays.

A further object of my invention is to arrange the auxiliary control means in a manner to'maintain the correct functions of the indication circuits (carried over the same wires as the remote control circuits) while the switch is being controlled locally.

A-still further object of my'invention resides in the provision of means for automatically restoring a switch which has been reversed by operation of the local control means 'to'a position in agreement with that of the remote control means after the train for which the switch was reversed has passed over the switch.

I accomplish the aforementioned objects by providing a local lever on the equipment adjacent to the switch, and by modifying the usual control circuits to permit control of the switch by the local lever and at the same time maintain the desired control of the indication circuits.

Ishall describe three forms of apparatus'embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1' is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.- Figs, 2-and 3 are fragmentary views showing mechanical details of a portion of the apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in Fig, 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views similar to Fig. 1 showing other forms of apparatus embodying my'invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the reference characters l and la; designate the track rails of a .connects the stretch A with a stretch of track J. The switch E is operated by suitable switch operating mechanism here shown as a motor M comprising a cylinder 4 containing a piston 5 operatively connected with the switch. Fluid under pressure, usually compressed air, is at times supplied to one end or the other of cylinder M from a suitable source, not shown in the drawings, and the supply of such fluid is controlled by a switch valve designated in general by the referencecharacter V. The valve V comprises a normalmagnet N and a reverse magnet R.

As shown in the drawings, the switch occupies its normal position. If, now, reverse magnet R is energ'med, fluid pressure will be supplied to motor M to operateswitch 3 to its reverse position. If, when the switch occupies its reverse position magnet N is energized, valve V will supply fiuid pressure to motor M to restore switch 3 to its normal position.

Operatively connecte'd with the switch E is a circuitcontroller G comprising two contacts 6-151: andlla which are closed when and only when the switch occupies its normal position, and two other contacts 665 and '|-lb which are closed when and only when the switch occupies its reverse position.

The magnets N and R of a switch valve V are controlled by the circuit controller G, by the track relay D, by a manually operable lever L, and by an auxiliary manually operable lever Ll.

The lever L will usually be one of a number of similar levers located in a control cabin at a point remote from the switch, and as here shown is capable of assuming a normal position 71, and

a reverse" position r; Operatively connected with the lever L are two contact arms 8 and 9. When the lever occupies its normal position in which it is shown in the drawings, the contact arm 8 engages a fixed contact member 8n to close a normal contact 8-811, and the contact arm 9 engages a fixed contact member 9n to close a normal contact 99n, whereas when the lever occupies its reverse position, the arm 8 then engages a fixed contact member BT to close a reverse contact 8-81 and the arm 9 engages a fixed contact member 91 to close the reverse contact 9-91.

The auxiliary manually operable lever Ll will usually be located adjacent to the switch, and may for example be similar tothat described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No, 1,887,273, granted to Lloyd V. Lewis on November 8, 1932, for Circuit controllers. This lever has a normal position n and a'reverse position r and operates two contact arms and II which cooperate respectively with fixed contact mem bers Illn and I In to close normal contacts l0l 6n and I l-I In, and with fixed contact members [01' and Hr to close reverse contacts l 0'l0r and ll-Hr, according as the lever Ll occupies its normal or its reverse position.

Under some conditions it is desirable to prevent access to the lever Ll except by authorized persons, and to insure that the lever will be restored to its normal position after it is operated. When this is the case, the lever may be disposed inside the cover [2 for the switch operating mechanism in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to Figs. 2-and 3, as here shown the cover I2 is provided with a hinged door 13 which closes an opening [4, and the lever Ll is mounted inside of the cover on a suitable support [5 in such a position that when the door is open access to the lever may be had through the opening 14. The door I3 is provided with a hasp l6 which, when the door is closed, receives a staple Mia,

and with a lug I! which will engage the lever and prevent the door from. being .moved to its closed position unless the lever occupies its normal position in which it is shown in the drawing. When the hasp I6 is in place on the staple [6a, a padlock l8 may be passed through the staple to thereby lock the door in. its closed position. To protect the operating parts of the lever etc., it may further be enclosed inside of anauxiliary cover IS. The cover I2 is arranged to be locked in place by means of a padlock "la, and it will be apparent, therefore, that access to the lever LI can only be had by authorized persons. For example, in actual practice, keys to the padlock. lBa

will be given only to signalmen, such as main-.

tainers, whereas keys to the lock 18 will be given both to signalmen and trainmen.

The apparatus also includes indication lamps HN and HR and a center tapped battery K.

As shown in the drawings, all parts are in their normal positions. That is to say,'levers L and LI both occupy their normal positions, switch E occupies its normal position, and section 13-0 is unoccupied by a train so that track relay D is energized. Under these conditions, magnet N is energized by virtue of a circuit passing from the left-hand half of the battery K through normal contact 88n of lever L, front contact 20 of relay D, normal contact Ill-H11 of auxiliary lever LI, the winding of magnet N, an asymmetric unit UI in its low resistance direction, and common wire2l back to battery K. Since magnet N is energized, fluid pressure is constantly admitted to motor M to hold the switch in its normal position. Furthermore, under-these conditions, an indication circuit is closed for the normal indication lamp HN passing from the right-hand half of battery K through common wire 2|, an asymmetric unit U2 in its low resistance direction, normal contact 66a of circuit controller G, front contact 22 of relay D, normal contact 99n of lever L, and the filament of lamp HN back to battery K. Lamp I-IN is therefore energized to indicate that the switch and lever both occupy their normal positions and section B-C is unoccupied.

I shall now assume that the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in the drawings and that the towerman who has charge of lever L wishes to reverse switch E. To do this, he will move lever L from its normal position 11 to its reverse position r, thus opening contacts 8-811 and 9-9n and closing contacts 8- 8r and 9-9r. The opening of contacts 88n and 99n interrupt, respectively, the previously traced circuit for the magnet N and for the indication lamp HN so that these parts now both become deenergized, while the closing of reverse contact 99 r completes a circuit for the reverse magnet R passing from the left-hand half of battery K through contact 99r of lever L, front contact 22 of relay D, normal contact Ill-41in of lever LI, the winding of magnet R, -an asymmetric unit U3 in its low resistance direction, and line wire 2| back to battery K. Magnet R therefore becomes energized and causes the switch to move toits reverse position. This movement of the switch opens the normal contacts 6--6a, and 1la of circuit controller G and closes the reverse contacts 66b and l'|b, and when reverse contact 6-627 becomes closed, a circuit is completed for the reverse indication lamp HR passing from the right-hand half of battery K through common wire 2!, asymmetric unit U2 in its low resistance direction, reverse contact 6-61) of circuit controller G, front contact 20 of track relay D, reverse contact 88r of lever L, and the filament of lamp HR to battery K. 'The completion of this circuit causes the reverse indication lamp to become lighted to indicate that the position of the switch and the position of lever L agreeand that the auxiliary lever Ll occupies its normal position.

If, after the switch has been moved to its reverse position in the manner just described, the towerman desires to restore it toits normal position, he will restore lever L to its normal position. Under these conditions, as soon as the lever is moved away from its reverse position, the reverse indication circuit Willbecome interrupted at contact 8-81' of leverL which will cause lamp HR to become extinguished, and the tion lamp I-IN; Lamp H-Nwill then-become lighted to indicate that the switch occupies its full normal position. Y

I shall now assume that-the switch occupies its normal position and that a train enters the track section BC. The presence of the train in this track section will deenergize the track relay D, and this relay will therefore open its front contacts and 22 and will close its back contact 23. The opening of front contacts 20 and 22 of relay D will interrupt all control circuits which were previously traced for the magnets N and R, thus preventing operation of the switch by means of the lever L as long as the train remains in section B-C. The opening of front contact 22 of relay D will also interrupt the normal indication circuit including lamp HN, thus causing this lamp to become extinguished. The closing of contact 23 of relay D will complete a locking circuit for the normal control magnet N passing from the left-hand half of battery K, through back contact 23 of relay D, normal contact 'I-la of circuit controller G, the win-ding of magnet N, asymmetric unit Ul in its low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. This circuit will maintain magnet N energized under these conditions and will insure that the switch will remain in its normal position.

If a train enters section B- C when the switch occupies its reverse position, the operation of the apparatus will be similar to that just described when the switch occupies its normal position with the exception that under these latter conditions the opening of contacts 20 and 22 of track relay D will interrupt the reverse indication circuit for the reverse indication lamp HR. and the normal energizing circuit for the reverse magnet R, while the closing of back contact 23 of relay D will complete an auxiliary energizing circuit for the reverse magnet R passing from the left-hand half of battery K through back contact 23 of relay D, reverse contact '|-1b of circuit controller G, the winding of magnet R, asymmetric unit U3 in the low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. I shall now assume that the parts are all in their normal positions in which they are shown in the drawings and that it is desired to control switch E locally by means of lever Ll to effect switching moves. To do this the trainman will first remove the padlock I8 and open the door l3, after which he will move lever L| from its n to its 1' position. This movement of the lever will interrupt the normal control circuit for the normalmagnet N at contact ||-|-ln of lever LI and will complete at contact Ill-4B1- an auxiliary control circuit for the reverse magnet R passing from the left-hand half of battery K through contact 88n of lever L, front contact 2|) of relay D, reverse contact IB-Hlr of lever Ll, the winding of magnet R, asymmetric unit U3 in its low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. The energiza'tion of the reverse magnet R will cause the switch to move to its reverse position. This movement of .the switch will operate the contacts of circuit controller D, and when the normal contact 6-6a becomes opened it will interrupt the circuit which was previously closed for the normal indication lamp H-N so that this lamp will now. become extinguished; All circuits for both. indication lamps will then be opened, and these lamps will therefore now both remain dark to give an indica'tion in the tower that the position of the switch is out of agreement with the position of the lever at the tower.

When the trainman desires to restore switch Etc itsnormal. position hewill restore lever Ll to its normal position. This will open the auxfor the reverse magnet R, and will complete the normal control circuit for the normal magnet N, thereby moving the switch to its normal position. As soon as the switch reaches its normal position the resultant closing of contact 6--6a of circuit controller G will reestablish the circuit for the normal indication lamp HN and will thus indicate tothetowerman that the switch is now in agreement with the position of the lever in the tower.

It should be particularly pointed out that since both the normal and reverse indication lamps become deenergized when the switch is operated by the local lever LI, if'the trainman should fail to restore the local lever to its normal position after he has reversed the switch for any reason and this operation has been efiected while the towerman is off duty, when the towerman returns to duty and finds that both the indication lamps are deenergized he will immediately be apprised that the position ofthe switch is out of agreement with the position of the lever in the tower and will accordingly send out a maintainer to locate the source of trouble.

I shall now assume that the switch E has been moved to its reverse position by operationof the lever L, and that it is desired to move it to its normal position locally to effect switching movements. To accomplish this latter result, the trainman will again move lever L! to its reverse position. This movement will interrupt the circuit which was previously completed for the reverse magnet R and will complete a circuit for normal magnetN, which latter circuit may be traced from battery K through reverse contact 9-91 of lever L, front contact 22 of relay D, reverse contact ||-||r of auxiliary lever Ll, the winding of normal magnet N, asymmetric unit Ul In its low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. The normal magnet N will thereforebecome energized and will cause the switch to move to its normal position. As soon as the switch reaches its normal position, the resultant operation of the circuit controller G will interrupt the energizing circuit for the reverse indication lamp HR, and since all circuits for both indication lamps will then be open these lamps will both become dark to indicate that the position of the switch and the position of the lever in the tower are out of agreement.

If when the switch has ben moved to its normal position by moving the auxiliary lever Ll to its reverse position it is desired to restore the switch to its reverse position this may be accomplished by restoring the lever L! to its normal position. The operation under these conditions will ,be apparent from the foregoing description without further detailed description.

It will be observed that the scheme just described will allow a member of a train crew to reverse a switch without going tothe tower, but it is necessary for the trainman toreturn the auxiliary lever to the normal position to restore the control by the lever in the tower to normal. If the auxiliary lever is left reversed, the switch may still be operated from the tower, but its position will be contrary to the lever position. The indication will not be received since the indication circuits remain normal and indicate correctly. Inasmuch as when the humping crew comes to workthe towerman tries all switches for response by indications, an. auxiliary lever left reversed will be detected'at onceand can be corrected by members of the ground crew Referring now to Fig. 4, I have here shown a modified form of my invention inrwhich, when the switch is reversed'by the local control means and the car or train for which the switch is reversed passes over the switch, the switch will automatically assume a position in agreement with the position of the lever at the remote control point as soon as the train has cleared the track circuit in which the switch is located.

As here illustrated, the auxiliary manually operable lever Ll utilized in Fig. 1 for effecting the local control of the switch has been replaced by a reversing relay F controlled by a push button P and the track relay D, and both the control and indication circuits have been modified somewhat in a manner which will be made clear presently. The push button P will preferably be housed at the switch in a manner similar to the lever L| in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, while the relay F will be housed at the same location as the track relay D. To prevent false indications, two additional asymmetric units U4 and U5 are provided. The apparatus not specifically mentioned is similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 4, lever L and switch E both occupy their normal positions, sections 3-0 is unoccupied so that track relay D is energized, push button P is open, and relay F is deenergiz-ed. Under these conditions, the reverse magnet R is deenergized, but the normal magnet N is energized over a normal control circuit passing from the left-hand half of battery K through normal contact 8-Bn of lever L, wire 25, back contact 2626b of relay F, front contact 20 of track relay D, wire 21, the winding of magnet N, asymmetric unit Ul in its low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. Furthermore, under the conditions described above, the reverse indication lamp is denergized and the normal indication lamp is lighted to indicate that the position of the switch is in agreement with that of the lever. The circuit for the normal indication lamp maybe traced from the right-hand half of battery K through common wire 2|, asymmetric unit U2 in its low resistance direction, contact 6-6a of circuit controller D in its normal position, front contact 22 of track relay D, back contact 2828b of reversing relay F, wire 29, normal contact 99n of lever L, and the filament of lamp HN back to battery K. a

I shall now "assume that with the parts in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4, the towerman, wishing to reverse switch E, moves lever L from its normal position to its reverse position. Under these conditions, the opening of contact 9-9n of lever L will interrupt the normal indication circuit just described, while the resultant closing of contact 9-91 of lever L will complete a normal control circuit for the reverse magnet R passing from the left-hand half of battery K through contact 9-91 of lever L,-wire 29, back'contact 28-281) of reversing relay F, front contact 22 of track relay D, wire 30, the winding of reverse magnet R, asymmetric unit U3 in its low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. The reverse magnet R will therefore become deenergized and will cause the switch. to be moved to its reverse position. When the switch reaches its reverse position, contact 6-6?) of circuit control G will become closed and will complete a-reverse indication circuit. This reverse indication circuit may be traced from battery K through common wire 2|, asymmetric unit U2 in its low resistance direction, contact 6-617 of circuit controller G, front contact 20 of track relay D, back contact 26-262) of reversing relay F, wire 25, reverse contact 8-81 of lever L, and reverse indication lamp HR back to battery K. Lamp HR will'therefore become lighted to indicate that the switch and lever both occupy their reverse positions.

If after the switch has been moved to its reverse position in the manner just described it is desired to restore it to its normal position from the remote point, the towerman will restore lever L to its normal positon. This movement of the lever will interrupt the reverse indication circuit including lamp HR as well as the normal control circuit for the reverse magnet R, and will complete the previously described normal control circuit for the normal magnet N. The energization of the normal magnet will, of course, cause the switch to return to its normal position. When the switch reaches its normal position, contact i$a of circuit controller G will become closed in its normal position and will thereby completethe previously described normal indication circuit including the normal indication lamp HN. When this lamp becomes lighted, all parts will then be restored to the positions in which they are shown in the drawings.

I shall next assume that the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in the drawings and that it is desired to reverse the switch locally to effect switching moves. To dothis, a member. of the train crew will operate the push button P. The operation of this push button will complete a pick-up circuit for relay F passing from battery K through the winding of relay F, push button P, and common wire 2| back to battery K. Relay F will therefore pick up its armature and will thus open its back contacts 26 26b and 28-2819 and close its front contacts 3|, 26 26a and 28-28a. The opening of back contact 26-2 6b of relay F will interrupt the normal control circuit for the normal magnet N so that this magnet will now become deenergized, while theopening of back contact 2828b of relay F will interrupt the normal indication circuit'to thereby cause the normal indication lamp HN to become extinguished. The closing of 'front contact 3| of reversing relay F will comvplete a stick circuit, forthis relay passing from battery K through the winding of relay F, front contact 23 of track relay D, front contact 3| of relay F and common wire 2| back to battery K. The completion of this stick circuit will cause relay F to remain energized until a car or train enters section 13-0 and deenergizes track relay D even though push button P is immediately released, as will be obvious. The closing of front :contact 28'28 a of relay F will complete an auxiliary energizing circuit for the reverse magnet R passing from battery K through normal contact 8-8n of lever L, wire 25, asymmetric unit U4 in' its low 'resistance direction, front contact 28'28a of relay F, front contact 22 of battery D, wire 3D, the magnet of relay R, asymmetric unitU3 in. its low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. Reverse magnet R. will therefore'become'energized and will cause the switch to move to its reverse position. When the switch reaches this latter position, contact 6-6b will become closed in its reverse position, and if asymmetric unit U5 were not provided a circuit would'then be completed for the normal indication lamp HN passing from battery K through common wire 2|, asymmetric unit U2 in its low resistance direction, contact 66b of circuit controller G, front contact 20 of relay D, front contact 2625a of relay F, asymmetric unit U5, wire 29, normal contact 99n of lever L, and the filament of lamp 'HN back to battery K. However, the asymmetric unit U5 is so poled that the current is prevented from flowing in this circuit, and both indication lamps therefore remain deenergized to indicate a disagreement between the position of the switch and that of the lever.

If after the switch has been moved to its reverse position by virtue of the operation of the push button P in the manner just described the towerman moves lever L to its reverse position, the circuit over which the reverse magnet was previously energized will become interrupted at normal contact B8n of lever L, and an auxiliary energizing circuit for the normal magnet N will become completed at reverse contact BBr of lever L. This latter circuit may be traced from battery K through reverse contact 991' of lever L, wire 29, asymmetric unit U5 in its low resistance direction, front contact 2626a of relay F, front contact 20 of relay D, the winding of magnetN, asymmetric unit Ul in its low resistance direction, and common wire 2| back to battery K. Magnet N will therefore become energized and will restore the switch to its normal position. When the switch reaches its normal position, the asymmetric unit U4 will act to prevent current from being supplied to lamp HR over a circuit which may be traced from battery K through common wire 2!, asymmetric unit U2, contact 6-6a of circuit controller G, front contact 22 of relay HD, front contact 28-2811 of relay F, asymmetric unit U4, wire 25, reverse contact BBr of lever L, and reverse indication lamp HR. to battery K. As a result, both lamps I-IN and HR again remain deenergized to indicate the disagreement between the position of the switch and the lever.

I shall now assume that the switch has been moved to its reverse position by moving lever L to its reverse position and that'under these conditicns a trainman operates push button P to thereby energize relay F.' The-energization of relay F will of course cause it to pick up its armature and complete its stick circuit in the manner described hereinbefore. The energization of this relay will also interrupt the reverse indication circuit for lamp HR and the normal in.- dication circuit for the reverse magnet R and will complete the auxiliary energizingcircuit for magnet N described above when lever L is moved to its reverse position while relay F was picked up. The completion of this auxiliary energizing circuit for magnet N will cause the switch to return to its normal position. When the switch reaches this normal position, both indication lamps will remain deenergized for the reasons explained above.

I shall now assume that the switch has been moved from its normal to its reverse position by operation of push button P and that a train or car subsequently passes over this switch and into the siding J. As soon as the car or train enters section BC, track relay D will become deenergized and will thereby open the circuit over which the reverse magnet R was previously energized, and will complete the locking circuit for the reverse magnet R described in connection with Fig. 1 to thereby prevent the reversal of the switch under the train. The deenergization of the track relay D will also interrupt the stick circuit for relay F so that this relay will immediatefly become deenergized. The deenergization of this relay under these conditions, however, will not have any effect on the remainder of the apparatus until the car or train clears section BC, whereupon the resultant picking up of relay D will complete the normal energizing circuit for the normal magnet N and will thus cause the switch to return to its normal position since the lever L now occupies its normal position. When the switch reaches its normal position, the normal indication lamp HN will become lighted to indicate that the positionof the switch is now. in agreement with the position of the lever.

If. a train traverses section B--C when the lever occupies its reverse position and the switch has been moved to its normal position by operation of push button P, the operation of the apparatus will be similar to that just described with the exception that when the train vacates section 3-0 the switch will then return to its reverse position and will cause the reverse indication lamp HR to become lighted. It is thought that this latter operation will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings and from the fore oing description without further. detailed description.

When relay F is deenergized' and a traintraverses section BC, the resultant deenergization of relay D will act to lock the switch in whichever extreme position it then occupies in a man'- ner which it is thought will be readilyapparent from an inspection of the drawings and from the foregoing description.

Referring now to Fig. 5, in the modified form of my invention here illustrated, the apparatus is similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. 4 with the exception that relay F has been replaced by a two-winding relay Fl which is controlled jointly by lever' L and by two push buttons P and PI.

The relay Fl will preferablybe located in the same relay housing as relay D, and is provided with contacts which correspond exactly with the contacts ofrelay F and perform the same functions as the contacts of relay F.

The push button P is normally open, while the push button PI is normally closed. Both of these push buttons will preferably be located in the housing of the switch machine in the manner similar to the auxiliary lever L! in Fig. 1.

The winding 32 of relay Fl is provided with a pick-up circuit which passes from battery K through normal contact 8'-8n of lever L, wire 25, asymmetric unit Ud'in its low resistance direction; winding 32 of relay Fl, push button P, and common wire 2! back to battery K. This circuit will become closed if and only if push button P is operated while lever L occupies its normal position in which it is shown in the drawings, and the parts are so proportioned that when. this circuit becomes closed relay Fl will open its contacts its front contacts 28-28a, 2626a and 3|.

Winding 32 of relay Fl is also provided with a stick circuit which becomes closed when relay 7 Fl picks up by virtue of the pick-up circuit just traced for this winding. This stick circuit passes from battery K'through normal contact 8-811. of

28-282) and 26-2lib and will close lever L, wire 25, asymmetric unit U4 in its low resistance direction, winding 32 of relay Fl, push button Pl, front contact 3| of relay Fl, and common wire 2| back to battery K. When this circuit is closed, relay Fl will remain energized even though the pick-up circuit which caused it to become energized is then opened.

Winding 33 of relay Fl is provided with a pickup circuit which passes from battery K through reverse contact 99r of leverL, wire 29, asymmetric unit U5 in its low resistance direction, winding 33 of relay Fl, push button P, and common wire 2| back to battery K. This latter pickup circuit becomes closed when and only when push button Pl is operated while lever L occupies its reverse position, and the parts are so proportioned that when this latter circuit is closed relay Flwill attract its armature in the same manner as when the pick-up circuit for winding 32 becomes closed. It should be noted, however, that the winding 33 is connected in this circuit in such manner that the flux which is set up in the magnetic circuit of relay Fl by the current flowing in this winding will traverse the magnetic circuit in the opposite direction from that which is set upin the magnetic circuit by current supplied to winding 32 over its pick-up and stick circuits.

Winding 33 of relay Fl is also provided with a stick circuit which becomes closed when relay Fl picks up its armature due to the completion of the pick-up circuit for winding 33. This stick circuit may be traced from battery K through reverse contact 99r of lever L, wire 29, asymmetric unit U5 in its low resistance direction, winding 33 of relay Fl, push button Pl, front contact 3| of relay Fl, and common wire 2| back to battery K, and this circuit is effective to retain relay Fl energized after it has become energized by virtue of the pick-up circuit for winding 33 until either push button Pl is operated or lever L is moved away from its reverse position. It will be apparent that the current which flows in winding 33 when it is energized by virtue of its stick circuit traverses the winding in the same direction as that supplied to the winding when it is energized by virtue of its pick-up circuit.

With the apparatus constructed as shown in Fig. 5, when relay Fl is deenergized, as will normally be the case, operation of the lever L will cause the switch to reverse in exactly the same manner as was described in connection with Fig. 4 when relay F was deenergized, the only difference being that each of the circuits which are completed will include a contact of relay Fl instead of a corresponding contact of relay F, it being understood that both relays have equivalent contacts.

If it is desired to reverse switch E locally to effect switching movements while the towerman is ofi duty, one of the trainmen will operate push button P. This will complete either the pick-up circuit for winding 32 of relay Fl, or the pick-up circuit for winding 33, depending upon whether lever L then occupies its normal or its reverse position, and will thus cause relay Fl to pick up its armature and complete the stick circuit for the winding whose energization caused the armature to pick up. The energization of relay Fl will, of course, cause the switch to reverse in the same manner as when relay F in Fig. 4 became energized and will cause both the indication lamps to become deenergized to indicate that the position of the switch is out of agreement with that of the lever. Since this operation is similar to that described hereinbefore in connection with Fig. 4, it is believed to be unnecessary to describe it in detail herein.

If, after a trainman has reversed the switch in the manner just described, he desires to restore it to its original position, he may accomplish this result by operating push button Pl. This will interrupt the stick circuit over which relay Fl is then energized, and will thus cause this relay to again become deenergized since all of the other circuits for relay Fl will then be open. As soon as relay Fl becomes deenergized, the switch will return to the position corresponding to that of the lever, and when it reaches this position, the corresponding indication lamp will become lighted.

I shall now assume that a trainman who has reversed the switch locally by operating push button P fails to restore it to its original position, and that when the towerman comes on duty he desires to regain normal control of the switch. To do this, he will reverse lever L. The reversal of the lever under these conditions will interrupt the stick circuit for whichever winding of the relay was previously energized, and if the lever is operated suificientl'y rapidly so that it reaches its opposite extreme position before front contact 3| of relay Fl has had an opportunity to open, the stick circuit for the other winding of the relay will become completed. For example, I shall assume that relay Fl is energized by virtue of the stick circuit for winding 32, and that lever L is moved rapidly from its normal to its reverse position. This operation of the lever will interrupt at its normal contact 8-8n the stick circuit for winding 32 of relay Fl, and will complete at its reverse contact 9-9r the stick circuit for winding 33. The interruption of the stick circuitfor winding 32 will of course deenergize this winding, while the completion of the stick circuit for winding 33 wil1 energize this winding. The energization of winding 33 will set up a flux in the magnetic circuit of relay Fl which bucks that due to the decaying flux of winding 32, and as a result, the two fluxes set up in the magnetic circuit of relay Fl will pass through zero and will thus cause the armature of relay Fl to release. When this happens, the stick circuit for winding 33 will become interrupted, and both windings of relay Fl will then become deenergized and will subsequently remain deenergized. As soon as relay Fl releases its armature, if section B-C is then unoccupied so that track relay D is energized, the normal energizing circuit for the reverse magnet R will become completed, as well as the normal indication circuit for the reverse indication lamp HR. The reverse indication lamp will therefore become lighted, which will inform the towerman that the position of the switch now agrees with that of the lever. If the towerman then desires to restore the switch to its normal position, he may do so by returning lever L to its normal position in the usual manner.

If the towerman had moved lever L to its reverse position under the conditions above described sufliciently slowly to permit front contact 3| of relay Fl to open before reverse contact 9-9r of this lever became closed, then winding 33 of relay Fl would not have become energized. The operation of the apparatus as a whole would otherwise have been the same as described above.

If the lever had been in its reverse position when the towerman came on duty under the conditions described above and he had moved the lever rapidly to its normal position, the operation of the lever would have deenergized winding 33 and would have caused winding 32 to become momentarily energized by virtue of its stick circuit to thereby set up in the magnetic circuit of relay Fl opposing fluxes which would cause the armature to release. As soon as relay FI had released its armature the control of the switch would have been restored to the towerman in a manner which will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawing and from the foregoing description without further detailed description.

One advantage of the apparatus constructed position at all times after it has been reversed by the trainman.

Another advantage of the apparatus constructed as shown in Fig. is that if a trainman fails to restore the switch to the position in which it agrees with that of the lever in the tower after he has reversed the switch, the towerman may readily gain normal control of the switch without the necessity for sending a maintainer out to the switch or causing a train to pass through the switch as will be readily understood.

Although I have herein shown and described} only a few forms of railway switch operating apparatus embodying myinvention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit'and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway track switch, a normal and a reverse control magnet for .controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions respectively, a control leverlocated at a point remote from said switch and having normal and reverse positions, local control means having first and second positions, means effective when said local control means occupies its first position for energizing said normal magnet or said reverse magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, and other means effective when said local control means occupies its second position for energizing said reverse magnet or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its normal 0 its reverse position.

2. In combination, a railway track switch, a normal anda reverse control magnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions respectively, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and movable to normal and reverse positions, local control means having two positions, means for energizing said normal magnet when said lever occupies its normal position and said remote control means occupies its one position or when said lever occupies its reverse position and said local control means occupies its other position, and means for energizing said reverse magnet when said lever occupies its reverse position and said having normal and reverse positions, local .control means having first and second. positions,

means effective when said local control .means.

and indicationnieans controlled by said circuit.

controller and said lever and effective to indicate when said switch and said lever occupy corresponding positions.

i. In combination, a railway switch having normal and reverse positions, a switchoperating mechanism operatively connected with said switch and provided with a normal and a reverse magnet and effective for moving said switch to itsnormal or its reverse position according as said normal or said reverse magnet is energized,

a circuit controller operated by said switch and including anormal contact which is closed only when said switch occupies its normal position and a reverse contact which is closed only when said switch occupies its reverse position, a manually. operable lever located at a pointremote from said switch movable between normal and reverse positions and including normal and reverse contacts which are closed according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, a normal energizing circuit for said normal magnet including a first normal contact of saidlever, anormal energizing circuit .for said reverse magnet including a first reverse contact of said lever, a normal and a reverse indication means, an energizing circuit for said normal indication means including a second normal contact of said lever and a normal contact of said circuit controller, and an energizing circuit for said reverse indication means including a second reverse contact of said lever and a reverse contact of said circuit controller, the combination with the aforementioned instrumentalities of local" control means having two positions and four contacts two closed in each position, the one contact which is closed is the'xone position being included in the normal energizingcircuit for said normal magnet and the other contact which is closed in the normal position of said local control means being included in the normal energizing circuit for said reverse magnet, an auxiliary energizing circuit for said normal magnet including said first nor-.

mal contact of said lever and a contact ofsaid local control means closed in its other position, and an auxiliary energizing circuit for said reverse magnet including said first reverse contact of saidlever and a contact of said local control means closed in its other position. I

5. In combination; a railway track switch, a normal and a reverse control magnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions, respectively, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and movable to normal and reverse positions, a reversing relay, a'push button located adjacent said switch, means controlled by said push button for energizing said reversing relay, circuit means effective when said reversing relay is deenergized for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according assaid lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, and other circuit means efiective when said reversing relay is energized for energizing said reverse or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position.

6. In combination; a railway track switch, a normal and a reverse control magnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions, respectively, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and movable to normal and reverse positions, a reversing relay, a push button located adjacent said switch, means controlled by said push button for energizing said reversing relay, circuit means effective when said reversing relay is deenergized for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, other circuit means effective when said reversing relay is energized for energizing said reverse or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, and means effective when said reversing relay becomes energized for maintaining it energized until a train enters a track section in which said switch is located.

'7. In combination; a railway track switch, a normal and a reverse control magnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions, respectively, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and movable to normal and reverse positions, a reversing relay, a push button located adjacent said switch, means controlled by said push button for energizing said reversing relay, circuit means effective when said reversing relay is deenergized for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, other circuit means effective when said reversing relay is energized for energizing said reverse or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, indication means associated with said lever, circuit means for energizing said indication means to indicate when said switch and said lever occupy corresponding positions, said last mentioned circuit means being in part common with thecircuit means for energizing said control magnets, and asymmetric units eifective to render said circuit means ineffective to control said indication means when said reversing relay is picked up unless said switch and said lever then occupy corresponding relative positions.

8. In combination, a railway track switch, a normal and a reverse control magnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions respectively, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and movable to normal and reverse positions, a reversing relay, means disposed adjacent said switch for controlling said reversing relay, means efiective when said reversing relay is deenergized for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according as said lever occupies its'normal or its reverse position, and other circuit means efiective when said reversing relay is energized for energizing said reverse or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its'normal or its reverse position.

9. In combination, a section of railway track including a track switch, a track circuit for said section including a track relay, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and movable to normal and reverse positions, a reversing relay, a manually operable contact located adjacent said switch, means controlled by said contact for energizing said reversing relay,

means effective when said reversing relay becomes energized for maintaining it energized until said track relay subsequently becomes deenergized, circuit means effective when said reversing relay is deenergized for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, and other circuit means effective when said reversing relay is energized for energizing said reverse or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position.

10. In combination, a section of railway track including a track switch, a track circuit for said section including a track relay, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and movable to normal and reverse positions, a reversing relay, a manually operable contact located adjacent said switch, means controlled by said contact for energizing said reversing relay, means efiective when said reversing relay becomes energized for maintaining it energized until said track relay subsequently becomes deenergized, circuit means effective when said reversing relay is deenergized for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, other circuit means effective when said reversing relay is energized for energizing said reverse or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position, indication means associated with said lever, circuit means for energizing said indication means to indicate when said switch and said lever occupy corresponding positions, said last mentioned circuit means being in part common with the circuit means for energizing said control magnets, and asymmetric units effective to render said circuit means ineffective to control said indication means when said reversing relay is picked up unless said switch and said lever then occupy corresponding relative positions.

11. In combination, a railway track switch, a normal and a reverse magnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions respectively, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and comprising normal and reverse contacts, a two-windingreversing relay, a manually operable normally open contact located adjacent said switch, a manually operable normally closed contact located adjacent said switch, a pick-up circuit for the one winding of said relay including a first normal contact of said lever and said manually operable normally open contact, a stick circuit for said one winding of said reversing relay including said first normal contact and a front contact of said relay and said manually operable normally closed contact, a pick-up circuit for the other winding of said relay including a first reverse contact of said lever and said manually operable normally open contact, a stick circuit for said other winding of said reversing relay including said first reverse contact and said front contact of said reversing relay and said manually operable normally closed contact, said two windings being connected in said stick circuits in such manner that the fluxes set up in the magnetic circuit of said relay when said stick circuits are energized will traverse the magnetic circuit in opposite directions, and means controlled jointly by said lever and said reversing relay for selectively energizing said normal and said reverse magnets.

12. In combination, a railway track switch, a normal and a reverse magnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reverse positions respectively, a control lever located at a point remote from said switch and comprising normal and reverse contacts, a two-winding reversing relay, a manually operable normally open contact located adjacent said switch, a manually operable normally closed contact located adjacent said switch, a pick-up circuit for the one winding of said relay including a first normal contact of said lever and said manually operable normally open contact, a stick circuit for said one winding of said reversing relay including said first normal contact and a front contact of said relay and said manually operable normally closed contact, a pick-up circuit for the other winding of said relay including a first reverse contact of said lever and said manually operable normally open contact, a stick circuit for said other winding of said reversing relay including said first reverse contact and said front contact of said reversing relay and said manually operable normally closed contact, said two windings being connected in said stick circuits in such manner that the fluxes set up in the magnetic circuit of said relay when said stick circuits are energized will traverse the magnetic circuit in opposite directions, circuit means effective when said reversing relay is deenergized for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according as said lever occupies itsnormal or its reverse position, and other circuit means effective when said reversing relay is energized for energizing said reverse or said normal magnet according as said lever occupies its normal or its reverse position.

JOHN W. LOGAN, JR. 

